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Like the subject of his passion, the Habano lover is a complex being, even a contradictory one at times: both refined and rustic, tolerant and demanding, he expects each new experience to broaden and enrich his appreciation of the world.

For such a traveler, the Habano is first and foremost a key to escape and astonishment opening up an avenue of pleasure far from the beaten path.  In Cuba, between the regions of Pinar del Rio and Havana, the cigar lover will discover the location, the climate and the people that make the Habano the best cigar in the world.

During his stay, the traveler will be able to spend time with the men and women who craft the Habano, those who nurture this premier product during its journey, from seedling to stamped cedar box in accordance with the lessons of more than two centuries of traditional craftsmanship.  The cigar lover should leave Cuba with a deep understanding of the roots of the Habano's aroma and strength and the reasons why it cannot be imitated.

This unique program seeks to guide the cigar lover step by step in this journey, providing well-defined objectives that remain flexible in response to the needs of each individual.  The program was developed in collaboration with eminent Habano specialists in Cuba and numerous members of HABANO FOLIE, a club of French cigar aficionados residing in Cuba. 

Each visit and activity will include a sampling shared with persons whose work or passion involves keeping alive the secular myth of the Habano.  All of the main themes of cigar smoking will be addressed: the rituals of smoking, the major names and brands, the aromatic palette, the vocabulary of the smoker, authentic vs. counterfeit Habanos, storage, Habano-alcohol combinations, etc.  With access to a unique experience and to advice in an exceptional location, the cigar lover will have ample time for testing the majority of Habano brands and for choosing his favorites amoug them.

THE SACRED HOMELAND
Any pilgrimage to the land of the Habano must necessarily begin at the Vuelta Abajo and its golden triangle: Pinar del Rio - San Luis - San Juan y Martinez.  This first leg of the journey will involve an immersion in the culture of the sacred homeland 200 km from Havana, where man, soil and climate combine in the mysterious natural alchemy that gives rise to Cuban tobacco.

DAY 1
A tour of a production cooperative will allow the traveler to discover the first stages of the process (planting, first fermentation, drying, etc.) and the different methods of production: tabaco de sol for the internal leaves, and tobaco tapado for the wrapping leaves.  An on-site lunch will be followed by the first sampling in the company of locals who will offer their Habanos rolled right on the spot.  Later, Pancho Cuba, an independent veguero (grower) will receive you, on his fields and in his home, and will reveal some of his secrets.  In your honor, he will produce his fuma (his personal cigar) which he will enjoy in your company.  The day will end at Viñales, a wonderful tobacco landscape where civilization appears not to have intruded and which serves as an unlikely heaven of peace and color where silence and tobacco reign supreme.

DAY 2
On this day you will witness, depending on the season, the despalillo or the escogida, which are key moments in the production of tobacco leaves.  Later, following a tour of Viñales, with its caves from the Jurassic period, and lunch at the Palenque followed by the first smoke of the day, you will travel to San Luis where you will be welcomed by veguero Alejandro Robaina, a living legend of the Habano, who will, in his turn, show you his fields and share with you his fuma-and a glass of vintage old rum.

HAVANA
Over the next three days, you will take part in a succession of visits, meetings and moments of pure pleasure. 

DAY 3
This day will begin with a full tour of one of the most prestigious manufacturers of the Capital, La Corona, Partagas, H. Upmann or Por Larrañaga, followed by a sampling session directed by the master torcedor of the site.  A creole lunch will be served at a Paladar (private restaurant) in an authentic Cuban atmosphere.  In the afternoon, the creator of a famous Vitola will initiate you the secrets of the ligada, the subtle dosage of different tobacco leaves which give a cigar its aroma and personality.  This will be a golden opportunity to smoke an exceptional Habano in the company of its creator.  In the evening, the famous cabaret Tropicana will be the site of numerous pleasures: dinner in the garden, the Grand Show and samplings of  subtle combinations of rum and Habano.

DAY 4
Today you will discover the close link between the Habano and the Santeria, an Afro-Cuban religion widely practiced on the island, by visiting sites where cult and cigars cohabit and evoke the spirits of the dead...   Afterwards, the first sampling of the day will be held in the fortress of la Cabaña overlooking the bay of Havana in the company of the torcedor Jose Cueto, a specialist of Diadema.  Lunch will be served at the Divina Pastora and is followed by a visit to one of the main attractions of Havana: the Museo de la Revolución, the Museo de los Capitanes Generales, etc.  In the late afternoon, the painter and cigar connoisseur Nelson Dominguez will receive you in his home/workshop in Old Havana and offer you a cigar along with his expert commentary.  In the evening, the famous Paladar la Guarida, with its surreal atmosphere, will be the location, after dinner, for a relaxed smoke with the host.

DAY 5
In the morning, the excursion entitled Hemingway's Cocktails will bring you by boat from Tarara to Cojimar, thus following the path taken by the famous lover of game fishing and rum.  After lunch at the Terraza de Cojimar, you will return to the seat of the HABANO FOLIE club for a final meeting and conference given by Mr. Jean-Yves Martinez, President of HABANO FOLIE, Havana correspondent of l'Amateur du Cigare magazine and co-author of "Le Havane: Portraits Hechos a Mano", Jazz Editions (www.havanet.com).  In the evening, during a gala meal in the prestigious restaurant La Torre, you will  enjoy the famous cuisine of French chef and Habano connoisseur Frank Pécol as well as the final sampling of the journey in the company of invited guests.

• All cigars are included
• Five star hotel in Havana
• All visits are accompanied by a specialized guide/interpreter
• Prices vary according to the number of participants and the travel date